TULSA, Okla. - Crimes of hate against American Indians totaled 75 incidents in the nation during 2007, said a Federal Bureau of Investigation report.
While the overall number of crimes against Indians mirrored 2006's 75 incidents...

TULSA, Okla. – Crimes of hate against American Indians totaled 75 incidents in the nation during 2007, said a Federal Bureau of Investigation report.

While the overall number of crimes against Indians mirrored 2006’s 75 incidents, the overall number of hate crimes dipped, according to the report. The federal law enforcement agency culled data from over 13,000 agencies across the nation.

Race remained a strong motivation of hate crimes outranking religious and sexual discrimation.

Whites were reported as the largest group of offenders, 3,800, across all racial groups. Over 9,000 total incidents occurred last year that included mainly intimidation in 22 of the 76 incidents involving Indians, the agency said.

In the 75 Indians-as-victim race incidents, only 7 of them were committed by other Indians, the report shows.

Oklahoma Indian activist Brenda Golden said the reason Indians figure so highly among race groups for incidents on hate crimes is that natives are historically viewed as scapegoats in the American conscience.

“People are gonna prey on the weak,” she said.”And we are weak because of 500 years of oppression.”

Golden said that resentment from general society characterizes Indians as receiving ill-deserved social benefits like food, health care and casino dividends. With these misperceptions, others view Indians as prime targets that arise from frustration and other factors.

“People think we get all these benefits when don’t,” she said. “And they also associate us with the past...that we killed white people indiscriminately when we were fighting for our land.”

Other Oklahoma activists said the data proves that Indians are most assaulted statistically. Louis Gray, president of the Tulsa Indian Coalition Against Racism, said that the general public would be alarmed if the statistics calculated for Indians matched their group percentage-wise.

“We know that one in three Indian women are likely to be physically assaulted in their lifetimes,” he said. “They’d be building walls if that applied to other women.”

The TICAR president said while education births awareness, it does not deal with the legacy of racism that is often a part of Indian and Black histories. People are often prejudice against Indians whom society would not categorize as such on the surface, Gray said.

“It’s ingrained in patterns of thinking...it’s cyclical,” he said. “When we becomes elements of objectification, then we are more vulnerable than other groups.”

The report ranked states in numbers of total reported hate crimes. In Oklahoma, there were 293 total agencies reporting 30 hate crimes of the overall 75 total. Other states with dense Indian populations, like Washington state and Arizona reported 195 and 161 total race crimes, respectively. The report did not break down state reports on victims or offenders by race, FBI officials said.

California had the largest total number of hate crimes with New Jersey and Michigan ranking second and third, respectively, data shows. Those figures do not depict the number of crimes against Indians, according to the report.

Saturday November 22, 2008, 7:32 am
Why does this not surprise me. The T-shirts with the logo on them which states "Homeland Security...Fighting Terrorism Since 1492" is telling the truth behind what appears a humorous statement. While we, the United States, were fighting the Germans in WWII, and the famous "Indian" that raised the flag, Ira Hayes on Iwo Jima, the Navajo Code Talkers whom were instrumental in their efforts to win the war, while we were liberating the Jews...at home we were still doing forced steralizations on Indian women, removing children from Indian families and placing them out for adoption simply because the family was poor, we were still subjecting the Indian children to Residential Schools with the daily mind control and horrific actions being applied to them...I list just a few of the many disgraceful actions towards the Native Americans. While we were protecting the Rights of others in distant lands we have been turning a blind eye to Government policy towards the Indians here, within our Borders, all in each and everyone one of our Names who are citizens of this Country...the We The People. You need not look elsewhere to fight for humanitarian causes...you only need to look in your neighborhood!

Saturday November 22, 2008, 8:12 am
It is sad but true however on the women statistic of assault-the the national average is 3 out of 5 women will be assaulted in their lifetimes and usually by someone they know and often by someone who says I love you -these figures are conservative and non dependent on race.Dandelion Sooooo Truth! thanx Kat

Saturday November 22, 2008, 12:13 pm
Here in Canada, we no longer call their Race "Indians", as they are not Indians, INDIANS COME FROM INDIA !!! Stupid white explorers called them that because they were to idiotic to even know where they had landed![Men never ask for directions] LOL
Here in Canada, they are referred to as FIRST NATIONS !!!
They are fighting for Ancestral Lands to be returned and they are winning many areas back into their hands.
AND yes they still suffer at the hands of ignorant people who have RACISM in their hearts and cause heartache,but times are getting better in many ways.

Saturday November 22, 2008, 3:39 pm
Unbelievable! But very believable! There is so much hatred in this world! So much towards the Indians! I hope they are able to get as much land back as possible! Hell, Ill help! Than you Kat! Noted!

Saturday November 22, 2008, 4:50 pm
well, Dandelion, you do well. the cure for ignorance is knowledge; you provide a few simple facts still unknown to many. when I home-schooled my children (now grown) i began American history with the history of Native Americans--i had to write my own curriculum because there was nothing extant that was useful. benjamin franklin promoted The Five Nations as the model for the new government--and succeeded. Because of him and Jefferson , the Iroquois system of democracy is an inextricably the American heritage.

there is a free download of Indian Givers (a deliberately ironic title since they indeed gave so much) at www.magnetosoft.com. if it is the same book I have (still unpacked) it is very readable and informative. also free and online without needing to download anything: http://www.ratical.org/many_worlds/6Nations/FF.html

Saturday November 22, 2008, 6:46 pm
When I was growing up even in school all we learned was about columbus day how he discovered america and how bad the indians were but, now that I have gotten older and learned my own history that I too have Cherokee in me and family photo's. Indians have always been kicked around and land taken from them and still today the same thing. They don't commit crimes maybe a few do but don't they all, I don't care what color or creed they are. But the Native Americans are the least to get any thing from anybody. Thanks Kat

Saturday November 22, 2008, 7:52 pm
I am aware of that Black T of Canada referring to the native population as the First Nations. As I have lived between the two Countries this is a knowledge to me and is good you bring it forth here. However for the sake of reaching a broad spectrum of people who may not be aware of First Nation I at times loosely use the term "Indian" hence why I also put the word Indian within "" the first time I used it....then also referred to the First People also as Native Americans further along. I also am part Native and I have friends here in the United States who are Full Blood and most do not mind the use of the term Indian...in fact some like it...they have chosen to take the name away from the Dominent Society and therefore "own" it. I think it is a personal choice and if those in Canada prefer First Nation then when I am in Canada I use their terms.

Saturday November 22, 2008, 8:53 pm
Noted Thanks Kat. Ignorance play a big role in Hate Crimes. It saddens me that this day and age we still have very ignorant people on this Earth. If we did not have a mix of different cultures, religions, and skin color we would be very bored. Culture should be learned and embraced not changed to suit you. Releigions should be tolerated. Is there only one right religion? I don't think so. Everyone worships God the way they see him and should not be forced to worship him in one way. Tolerance of skin color. Why does skin color matter so much? It should be the person's character that should matter. We will never have peace as long as ignorant people are on this earth.

Saturday November 22, 2008, 9:05 pm
Black is so right. I am getting tired of Native Americans being called "Indians" which is often a reminder of the stereotypes also used in old Western movies. The term "First Nations" is so much better and I am glad Canadians are more aware and knowledgeable about this.

Sunday November 23, 2008, 12:03 am
Racial Hatred is Racial Hatred PERIOD. Some people will allways hate others for no reason other then the color of there of there skin. Or where there where born, or what faith they follow. This has been going on since the beging of time. People hate each other. And they use what ever reason to kill when they want to. It would be nice if everyone would just leave everyone else alone. But we will all be dead before that will ever happen. And thats the pity.

Sunday November 23, 2008, 3:01 am
American Indian leaders now believe the name "Indian" was not used by Columbus because he thought he had reached India, but because he called the native people "en dios," instead of indios as the records show. Thus the word "Indian," according to the spiritual malfeasance of liberal linguists, is believed to have derived from "en dios," or, in "God."

Sunday November 23, 2008, 12:10 pm
THIS IRKS TO TREMENDOUSLY!!! HEY RACISTS, ALL humans today can be traced back to just 4 main groups of Native Africans!!!
My ancestors were early pioneer. Some were great friends of Natives & others fought them, & an old Grandmother was "adopted" by some for about 10 years as a child. I have been an advocate for Native Americans all my life! My hubby is half Native and now my youngest Grandson is too.

Sunday November 23, 2008, 12:58 pm
As a native "Okie" and 1/4 Cherokee, I am not surprised by this information. On May 31 - June 1, 1921, White Tulsans attacked the "colored" section of Tulsa. Called the Tulsa Race Riot of 1921, this attack on blacks was a result of a "lie", "misinterpretation", "misinformation" whatever,the result was the same. Burn them out and kill them. As with today, ignorance is the result of the above "mis's". In 1921, the ignorance was directed toward the blacks and anyone that tried to help. As recently as the 1960s, there were signs in Oklahoma towns that read "Black man don't let the sun set on your back here." I know, I saw them. Do any of you know why the Cherokee are part of Oklahoma's history? If not, check out the Trail of Tears.
Extremely saddened and disgusted, but noted.

Sunday November 23, 2008, 2:23 pm
Am I the only one who is angered that this is never covered by mainstream media? Do we hear about assaults on gays? blacks? hispanics? YES. If this is the most common assault, WHY do we not hear about it? And I agree that Indians are from India...we have Native Americans! Thanks, Kat Mosi

Sunday November 23, 2008, 9:43 pm
A question for all that haved posted here please: Would you have read this story if it didn't say "hate crime" and what has been your impression of Native Americans prior to this article. Just curious? I think weird stuff sometimes, it just made me wonder. Oh, Patty, it's pretty hard to separate them today.
Tks ya'll.

Monday November 24, 2008, 6:57 am
Since Obama became President its finally coming out. Racism is every where and in every state. In Maine a store shut down because the owner was having a pool on how fast Obama would be killed and how? Everyone was shocked. Really! As a Native American I have seen it always. It happens but no one either believes or does anything about it. As far as the FBI they have always been after Indians. I hope Creator shows everyone now so that they can see racist are still alive and going strong. Remember that when you hear a joke or a comment.

Monday November 24, 2008, 10:29 am
I am ashamed as a white person that this racism and hate crimes against the Native Americans exists. My heart and mind do not understand racism. Discrimination destroys this country.

Monday November 24, 2008, 12:23 pm
Thank you Kat for the linguistic lesson of the term Indian what a helpful piece of information. So much is lost in History and again that goes back to the statement "If you do not learn your History you are doomed to repeat it." Why I said it is a personal choice to people...you have the background to the term Indian...others get it confused with what they believe to be so. Having been among the various Nations I found most Native Americans do not mind being referred to as Indian and neither do you by your comment. Any word taken out of context and meant as a slur is wrong...it all comes down to repect or disrespect.
I too am saddened by what is going on here in Maine as brought up by Margo Lodge Seven Oakes and the KKK graffiti being posted on public walkways. I am fairly new to this State and am appalled by certain things I am finding here...not that any State is free from prejudice but I just did not expect to find so much of it here...having moved out of the South I thought here was different...I guess not.

Monday November 24, 2008, 6:23 pm
One of my grandfathers is Swede and the other is Hindu. Both of my grandmothers are first nation. My grandmother told me I have Japanese ancestors. Recently, I was told by one of my uncles that we have Irish ancestors as well. During the summer I look totally Hindu and by fall I look native. I'm often mistaken for a Mexican or Filipino. By winter my skin is olive to almost white. As the seasons progress you can imagine how people react to me as the color of my skin changes. When I was a child a German girlfriend swore to be my sister for life. We cut our fingers and put them together to seal our friendship. When I looked the color of our blood was the same. Funny how we bleed the same. Peace & Love

Monday November 24, 2008, 11:51 pm
I do not feel that people like the previous commenter belong in Care2. I am 100% for free speech, but not when it is hateful. The poster of the comment has no merit at all. If you only come in here to rile people, please leave we truly dedicated people with compassion for the lives of others alone.

Tuesday November 25, 2008, 7:50 am
My own family elders have a prejudice against Native American's. It just recently showed its ugly head when my parents denigrated me for fighting for Native Rights and to bring this into the United Nations. There arguments: a. there are bad "Indians" --ya and your point Dad? I threw out some enlightening facts to every ignorant argument born of mouthing others lies that they could think of. B. the other argument--We conquered THEM. When I pulled my jaw up off the floor we had quite a go round about this. All I saw were people who do not know a single Native American, whose only contact is the casino buffett espousing the same nonsensical racist slogans that they probably grew up hearing. At 80 years old I doubt they will change. My answer for this would be to reach out and understand and replace these opinions based on lies and ignorance and educate yourself. See the truth behind the history and the current life-style of the Native American. It's not all casinos and drunkeness. Sitting B. a pretty sad pathetic attempt to be a troll.

Tuesday November 25, 2008, 3:09 pm
For those who are divisively planning for total domination of the world, they play everyone against each other. They are not backward in having a number of different groups that they support who they know are totally against each other.

By this method, they themselves will be hard to identify and they want to keep it that way so they can effectively step forward as the supposed "saviors" and everyone will say "Hallelujah" but will only realise the mistake and who the real perpetrators are when it is too late to do anything about it and all are slaves to this organisation.

The symbol at the start of the article is the identifying mark. If one investigates right back behind the scene and into history, they will find the real perpetrators of hate crimes. It is all very well to put forward a face of so called peace when under the covers there is a history of murder and violence against all who would stand against them.

Does that sound like a stupid riddle? When one gets the facts of history, even the apparent "helping the Jews" is for the ultimate purpose of totally destroying them. It is happening right before our eyes and we are so blind we can not even see it. All ethnic tribes will get the same horrendous treatment till there is but this one religion. Well, almost, because when they are identified for their nefarious ways, then they will be turned on with a vengeance. In the meantime, Native Americans, Australian Aboriginals, South Africans and a multitude of others plus ANY who do not toe the line without questioning, WILL BE SLAUGHTERED.

I am glad that eventually God is going to step in and give those who create this hate movement their "rights" by consigning them to the final destruction of sin. The good part will be that those who are persecuted now will have the joy of a new home where everyone will live in peace and this evil crap will never rise up again.